Coal-washer



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GOAL WASHER. No. 570,232. Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

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W. L. SO'AIPE.

GOAL WASHER.

No. 570,232 Patented 001:. 27, 1896.

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W. L. SGAIIE. GOAL WASHER.

No. 570,232.. Patented 001;. 27, 1896.

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Warn/7f NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

XVILLIAM L. SOAIFE, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

COAL-WASH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,232, dated October 27, 1896.

Application filed March 4, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. SCAIFE, a resident of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ooal-WVashers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus for washing coal, ores, minerals, (to.

My invention comprises, generally stated, a trough of semicylindrical form hinged along one side thereof, so as to be capable of swinging down transversely of its length. Within the trough are ledges or stops for collecting the heavier materials, while stirrers are suspended within said trough from a suitable axis, which is adapted to oscillate said stirrers to agitate the coal or other material to be cleaned, the object of the invention being to provide a trough which when dumped will permit of the discharge of the contents quickly, while at the same time it discharges said contents in a heap extending the entire length of the trough, whereby opportunity is given to inspect the discharged material more thoroughly, and at the same time free access can be had by the operator to the trough, when dumped, to remove any of the material which may adhere to the interior of said trough.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coal-washing machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a view of the trough dumped with the flushing device in operation. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the flushing device, and Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved coalwashing machine.

Like letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The apparatus may be supported on any suitable frame a. The trough b, which is semicylindrical in form, has the lugs b formed thereon at intervals along one side thereof, said lugs being connected to lugs cl on the frame by means of pins 6, whereby said trough is hinged to the frame a, and is adapted to swing down transversely of its length. The trough b is preferably supported at a slight Serial No. 581,767. (No model.)

incline. At the upper end of the trough a is the hopper f, to which the material to be washed is fed. In front of the hopper f is the depending pipe g, which hangs down in front of the opening in said hopper leading to the trough and acts to furnish water to the material descending from the hopper into the trough.

J ournaled within suitable bearings h in the frame and extending the entire length of the trough b is the axis or shaft i. Arranged at suitable intervals on said shaft 'i are the stirrers j, said stirrers extending down within the trough a suitable distance, so as to befree to oscillate back and forth therein. To provide for the oscillation of the stirrers j, a crank A; is attached to the shaft i, the rod Z is connected to the upper end of the crank 7.3, and at its other end it is connnected eccentrically, as at Z, to the pulley wheel m, mounted on the standards it of the frame. This pulley-wheel may be driven by any suitable power-shaft, and is flanged to prevent the belt slipping therefrom owing to the slight incline of the trough.

In order to hold the trough l) in its normal position, a long lever o is fulcrumed at 0 in suitable standards 19 of the frame. The upper end of the lever 0 has the depending arm q, whose lower end is hooked and adapted to engage the pin 1', connected to the trough b. The lower end of the lever 0 has the weight 8 suspended therefrom by means of the rod 5. The lever 0 has the opening t formed therein, adapted to coincide with a like opening a in one of the standards of the frame. A pin 2: is adapted to pass through the coincident openings 25 and it, and thus acts to hold the lower end of the lever in the position shown in Fig. 1, and thus prevent the tipping or dumping of the trough until it is so desired.

Within the trough b are the ledges or stops w, which can be form-ed integral therewith or secured in place therein in any suitable manner. These ledges are arranged at suitable intervals, and being'on the trough it elf act as strengthening-ribs, so that by their presence the trough is made more rigid and durable. At the lower end of the frame a is the chute 00, adapted to carry off the lighter materials, said chute leading from said trough at a height approximately equal to the height of the stirrers.

Extending the entire length of the trough h is the water-pipe y, fitted with suitable nozzles y at proper distances apart. At one end of the pipe 3 is the valve r1 operated by the double-armed lever 1 The arm 3 of said lever has the weight suspended therefrom. The arm y is connected by the chain 1 to the trough I). Then the trough drops to the position shown in Fig. 4, the chain 3 lowers the arm 1 and opens the valve, whereupon the nozzles g discharge the water into the trough and thoroughly washes all the mate rials therefrom.

I do not desire to limit myself in any manner to the particular form of mechanism for oscillating the stirrers or to the particular form of mechanism employed for holding the trough in its normal position.

The operation of my improved coal-wash- .ing machine is as follows: here it is employed as a machine for washing coal, the coal, being lighter than the slate or baser materials in the coal, will be carried to the top, while the slate and baser materials will remain at the bottom of the trough. The coal, combined with the baser materials, is fed into the hopper f, whence it passes into the trough, the water being admitted by the pipe g. The stirrers are then put into operation and the washing process begins. The oscillation of the stirrers works the mass in such a way as to bring the lighter coal to the top, while the slate and heavier materials are carried to the bottom. The ledges or stops to prevent the heavier materials from Working out at the lower end of the trough, while the lighter coal is permitted to pass over the top' and through the opening at the lower end of the trough into the chute m. \Vhen the washing has gone 011 until the spaces between the stops are practically full of the heavier materials, the water is shut off and the outlet of the hopper f is closed, whereupon by removing the pin 12 the weight of the contents of the trough will cause said trough to swing down, raising the weight 5. The trough will then be in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and in full lines Fig. 4. Although most of the contents will be discharged by the dumping of the trough, yet the flushing device aids to wash out any particles which may not be discharged in dumping. The contents of the trough will fall onto the inclined slide .2', whence it is carried to the platform .2. By having the trough hinged in the manner described and adapted to swing down transversely of its length the discharged contents will form in a pile on the platform 2, said pile extending for the entire length of the trough and permitting of the inspection of the discharged material, which is of special importance where the heavier materials are the valuable ones, as in the case of ores. As soon as the trough has been dumped the weight 5 will bring it back to its normal position, whereupon the pin r is again inserted into place to hold the trough in its normal position and the washing operation can then be resumed. The weight also acts to close the valve 3 and shut off the water at the nozzles y.

By the above construction when the trough swings down to the position shown in Fig. 4: I provide for a better discharge of the con tents of the trough, while at the same time the trough is exposed in such way that in case any of the particles adhere to the cloth the operator by walking along the trough can with a bar of suitable size loosen and remove any particles which remain in the trough.

It is of course apparent that the machine is just as well adapted for washing ores, the only difference being that the lighter materials in that case form the refuse, while the heavier are the ores to be preserved.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In machines for washing coal, ores, &c., the combination with a suitable frame, of a trough mounted on said frame and hinged along one side, said trough being adapted to swing down transversely of its length, whereby the contents are dumped along the entire length of said trough and free access may be had to said trough, and mechanism for holding said trough in its normal position, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, &c., the combination with a suitable frame, of an oscillating shaft carrying a series of stirrers, and a trough mounted on said frame and hinged along one side, said trough being adapted to swing down transversely of its length, whereby the contents are dumped along the entire length of said trough and free access may be had to said trough, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, (he. the combination with a suitable frame, of an oscillating shaft carrying a series of stirrers, and a trough having ledges, orstops secured thereto, said trough hinged along one side and being adapted to swing down transversely of its length, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, &c., the combination with a suitable frame, of a trough mounted thereon adapted to swing down transversely of its length, a weighted lever having one end thereof connected to said trough and means for locking said lever to said frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, &c., the combination with a suitable frame, of a trough mounted thereon adapted to swing down transversely of its length, a weighted lever having one endthereof connected to said trough, said lever having an opening therein adapted to coincide with an opening in said frame, and a pin adapted to engage said openings, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, &c.,

the combination with a transversely-dumpsaid trough and said valve for opening same, ing trough, of aWater-supply pipe extending whereby the water is discharged into said longitudinally of the trough in position to troughwhen in its dunipingposition,substanflush said trough when in its dumping positially as set forth.

5 tion, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I, the said WVILLIAM I 5 7. In apparatus for washing coal, ores, &c., L. SCAIFE, have hereunto set my hand.

the combination with a transversely-dump- WILLIAM L. SCAIFE. ing trough, of a water-pipe extending longilVitnesses: tudinally of the trough and having a series ROBT. D. TOTTEN,

10 of outlets, a Valve, and connections between ROBERT C. TOTTEN. 

